LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT Minutes of meeting No. 65 of the Consultative Committee held on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 at 2pm. Present: Stuart Greengrass Alastair Welch Jo Marchetti Councillor Peter Ashley Councillor Pam Challis Councillor Mike Dolby* Norah Goodman Councillor Ray Howard Martin Howlett Councillor Tony Humphries Councillor Roy Pearson Councillor John Pullen Nigel Robbins Keith Ross Les Sawyer Ron Smithson Councillor Derek Stansby Councillor Michael Starke Councillor Martin Terry Sallyanne Thallon Derry Thorpe George Crowe *substitute Chairman Airport Managing Director Community Affairs Co-ordinator Southend on Sea Borough Council Director, Thames Gateway Leigh on Sea Town Council Eastwood & St. Laurence Residents Association Essex County Council Rochford District Council (Officer) Rayleigh Town Council Essex County Council Rochford District Council Southend on Sea Borough Council (Officer) Ipeco Holdings West Leigh Residents Association Flying Clubs Rochford District Council Rochford District Council Southend on Sea Borough Council Essex County Council (Officer) Southend Trades Council Secretary 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from David Osborn (Vice-Chairman), Councillor Jim Clinkscales (Southend on Sea Borough Council) and Councillor Jean Rowswell (Leigh on Sea Town Council - substituted by Councillor Dolby). 2. CHAIRMAN S OPENING REMARKS The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting and suggested that they should look at the display boards in the Terminal Building illustrating the proposals for the development of the Airport. 3. MEMBERSHIP It was noted that Councillor Starke would not be standing for election to Rochford District Council in the local elections to be held on 6 May and would, therefore, not be representing that Council on the Committee beyond then. The Chairman thanked him on behalf of the Committee for his service to the Committee. 1
4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2009 that had previously been circulated were confirmed as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of apologies for absence from Councillor Howard. They were signed by the Chairman. 5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES RAF memorial (minute 11 refers) The Airport Managing Director advised the Committee that funding and an appropriate design for the proposed memorial were being investigated. The memorial was unlikely to be in place for the 70 th anniversary of the Battle of Britain later this year but it was hoped that progress would be made by then. 6. AIRPORT MANAGING DIRECTOR S REPORT The Committee received Alastair Welch s report for November to January that had been previously circulated with the agenda. (a) Performance The following movements were reported:- Total aviation November December January Total movements 2009/10 687 2,027 2,134 4,848 2008/09 2,317 2,481 2,573 7,371 Commercial 62 225 199 486 mvts. 2009/10 Commercial mvts. 2008/09 252 229 204 685 (b) Overview The report advised that a very challenging commercial market place was still being experienced. The weather had particularly adversely affected the Airport s flying clubs over the past quarter. A number of flights had been diverting into the Airport when others were closed due to the adverse weather and these had once again slightly softened the fall in movements at the Airport. On one occasion in December, Gatwick, Luton, Southampton, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester and Leeds Bradford were closed due to snow whilst Stansted and Heathrow were full due to diversions. Some flights were diverted to Glasgow and a number that could operate into Southend did so. Others had to divert to France. Diversions from Farnborough, London City, Biggin Hill and Stansted had also been accommodated this winter. In answer to a question the Committee was advised that the diversions had not led to any complaints. 2
(c) Noise Alastair Welch advised that a total of 143 noise comments had been received during the period October to December 2009. Of these, 125 related to Southend movements. For the same period in 2008, 11 comments were made 4 of which were related to Southend movements. The huge increase was despite there being significantly fewer movements. One person submitted 90 during the three month period and the vast majority were from 5 or 6 people. None of the movements that these comments related to were found to have been doing anything inappropriate or outside the Airport s control framework. It was noted that each complaint was investigated individually and the Committee discussed whether the Airport should be expected to continue to respond to each of the complaints raised when a large number came from one person. The suggestion was made that the time should come when the Airport should write to such complainants advising that no response would be made to their complaints for a specified period and then only if the complaints were genuine. It was agreed that the Chairman should be consulted before that happened and that a meeting should be offered to the complainant. 7. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT The Airport Managing Director s report updated the Committee on progress with the Airport development programme. In Phase 1, work had started on the site of the new Control Tower. The principle contractor was the Essex based Readie Construction. Steelwork was due to be erected on site during the week commencing 8 March and work was expected to be completed in the autumn. The Tower opening was planned for February 2011 following a period of staff training. This project also included the construction of the new car park adjacent to the Rail Station. Progress on the Rail Station was being made but the cold winter was not helping. The project was costing 1m per month and the steelwork was proposed to be erected at the end of March. Construction was scheduled to be completed in early July. Relations with National Express East Anglia had improved and commercial arrangements with both the Department for Transport and Network Rail were being finalised. So far as Phase 2 was concerned, the Managing Director advised that he was thrilled that Southend Borough Council s Development Control Committee had voted by 14 votes to 3 in support of the proposals to extend the runway. This followed letters of support from, amongst others, Essex County Council and also Rochford and Castle Point Councils. The Secretary of State had served an Article 14 Direction on Southend in advance of their Development Control Committee meeting. Mr Welch advised that a decision on whether the planning permission could be issued was expected before the end of February. If no decision had been made by Easter he would be concerned. The application was currently at GOEast and had not yet been passed on to the Secretary of State. Gratifyingly there had been overwhelming support from Southend organisations. Since the planning application had been considered 3
by the Development Control Committee, a number of letters of support had been sent to the Secretary of State. Councillor Howard suggested that the Secretary of State should be written to by the Chairman setting out this Committee s support. He expressed his concern that a planning inquiry would mean an end to the project. The letter should advise that the Committee hoped that Southend Council would be able to progress the planning application as soon as possible. The suggestion was discussed and it was agreed that it should be pointed out to the Secretary of State that the development proposals were consistent with the Government's White Paper on The Future of Air Transport. A vote was taken and it was agreed unanimously that the Chairman should write letter. A copy of the Chairman's letter is appended to these minutes. Action: Chairman It was noted that the plans for the Airport s new passenger terminal and hotel were being progressed. Both projects were dependent on a positive outcome to the runway application. 8. INWARD INVESTMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING The Airport Managing Director s report advised that, in addition to the 15m which the Stobart group had committed to the Airport to fund the new Rail Station and Control Tower, there was significant interest in further investment at the Airport. Meetings had been held with a number of organisations that would like to invest in new facilities at the Airport. However, given the limiting nature of the current facility, none would consider investing unless the runway was extended. The new apprentice training facility was working well and was due to be officially opened on 24 February by James Duddridge, MP. It had been supported with money from Essex County Council. The workshop had been established at ATC Lasham. Mr Welch was optimistic that progress would soon be made with a more permanent facility. 9. PRESS PACK The press pack of newspaper cuttings relating to the Airport was received and noted. Councillor Starke commented that the Evening Echo tended to be more positive towards the development of the Airport recently. The Chairman said that he monitored the Evening Echo blog on which people were allowed to say what they wished. The vast majority of entries were supportive and well informed and there was obviously a lot of interest in the development. 10. COMMUNITY RELATIONS In the Airport Managing Director s report the Committee was informed that the Airport s Noise Action Plan consultation was due to be concluded on 9 February. Only five responses to the consultation had been received and Mr Welch intended to bring a summary of the responses to the next meeting of this Committee. Action: Airport Managing Director 4
Presentations had been made to a number of local societies and groups in the area and Airport representatives had been involved in a lively panel session in Leigh in November. A meeting had been held with the Committee of SAEN in December. Information had been shared with them to confirm that, if the runway was extended: o safety would be enhanced; o the proposals did not include traffic lights on the A127 or Nestuda Way; o car parking needs would be met on the Airport and o their information on Public Safety Zones was misleading. In addition they had been we asked to clarify the nature of their concerns over activities at a number of schools and also to provide information to justify their claim that fewer than 200 jobs would be created in total if the Airport was developed. The Airport Managing Director advised that he had not found the meeting as productive as he would have hoped. It had been followed by a somewhat misleading press release from SAEN. Planning officers from Southend Borough Council had also attended the meeting on the invitation of the organisation. Nora Goodman said that she understood that SAEN intended to employ a lawyer to promote its case against the development. She added that residents would continue to require employment. Jo Marchetti, who had been appointed to the new post of Community Affairs Coordinator at the Airport was introduced to the Committee and her role was outlined. 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Open Days The Airport Managing Director was asked whether Open Days would be held this year. Mr Welch advised that more tours were being planned but the Open Days were always held in conjunction with the Southend Air Show and it was not yet known whether there would be a Southend Air Show in 2010. 12. DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS It was noted that it had been previously agreed that meetings would be held at 2pm on the following Wednesdays: o 19 May 2010; o 18 August 2010; o 17 November 2010. The meeting ended at 3.05pm. 5
APPENDIX 22 th February 2010 Please reply to:- Stuart Greengrass Chairman Southend Airport Consultative Committee C/O Mr George Crowe Secretary to Southend Airport ACC London Southend Airport Southend on Sea Essex SS2 6YF Mr John Denham Secretary of State Department for Communities and Local Government Eland House Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DU Dear Secretary of State, London Southend Airport Runway I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Consultative Committee of London Southend Airport. The Committee is formed under the auspices of the Airport Acts and is made up of 30 members. The membership includes elected councillors from the 7 local councils, local residents associations (including the local areas of Eastwood, Leigh and West Leigh), local employers and airport flying clubs. The Committee met on February 17 th and members present voted unanimously to ask me to write to you on their behalf to emphasise their support for the project to extend the airport s runway. The committee formed a sub-committee almost a year ago to explore the options to introduce tougher controls on airport night flights which could form part of new constraints in the event of an expansion of activity. These controls were supported by the wider committee and represent the core of the stringent new controls which would be introduced, but only if a longer runway was brought into use. We recognise the excellent work currently carried out at the airport by manufacturing and maintenance organisations and these companies offer a very bright future for the young people of the area epitomised by the opening on February 24 th of a new aeronautical academy on the airport for aero engineering apprentices. The demand for courses is heavily oversubscribed and we see private sector investment and employment at the airport growing significantly with a longer runway in place. Cont d/ 2 6
- 2 We recall the 1960s when the airport was the third busiest in the UK based on frequent scheduled short haul flights to continental Europe, with Southend and Rochford as thriving towns with much private sector investment. Sadly, most of the previous employment opportunities have gone but we have managed to retain some world class, high value employers based around the aerospace market place. If Southend and Rochford are to retain these employers for the benefit of the wider community, London Southend Airport must remain an attractive and competitive environment capable of accommodating growth in these businesses. We are seriously fearful this will not be the case if the runway extension is not permitted. With the longer runway the airport will be able to accommodate newer, quieter longer range aircraft and attract schedule flight operators in keeping with the Government s own Air Transport White Paper on air travel. Consequently, London Southend Airport will once again be able to meet local demand for air travel, relieve congestion at other London airports and bring a sorely needed boost to high quality employment and education opportunities to Southend, Rochford and the wider area. We believe you will have had other correspondence setting out how the runway project fits with planning policy and represents a core element of the regeneration of Southend. We wanted to ensure that you were aware that as a Consultative Committee, which represents a cross section of the whole community we have voted to show our unanimous support for the project. We are aware that time is of the essence as we would dearly love to be able to showcase what Southend does best in time for the Olympics in 2012. We would ask that you make an early decision and that you support the views of the Committee and allow the project to proceed as soon as possible. Yours sincerely Stuart Greengrass Chairman Airport Consultative Committee cc: Lindsay Speed - Government Office East of England 7